Just found out that my Prostate cancer has entered my chest area as latest CT scan shows new and larger pulmonary nodules and larger mediastinal adenopathy. PSA taken this week was 49.7 up from 29.8 two months ago despite continual Lupron injections. Had a choice of Chemo or Ketoconazole + Hydrocortisone and decided on the hormonal therapy as not mentaly ready for Chemo. wondering if anybody on this board has been in this situation and if so, what was your experience and outcome.

Age 69, d'xd 10/02 with PSA of 42.7 and Gelason of 7 (4+3). Started Lupron/Casodex 11/02 and Radiation (37 treatments) in 2/03. After two years of Lupron/Casodex PSA was <.01 so treatment was stopped. PSA started rising 2 years later so started back on Lupron/Casodex but Oncologist stopped my Casodex early this year but continued Lupron.

He also started a foundation at www.flhw.org and has an email address there as well.

You and I are close but I have not progressed to a rising PSA and I believe that your were further along when the disease was discovered. Still I stay hopeful and positive, and send the same well wishes to you. You can find more guys like yourself at the Infolink social network, as well as the the Prostate Problems Mailing List found at www.ustoo.org.

Second line drugs like Keto or Nilandron will work for a limited period. Moving to chemo sooner may have it's advantages in that many clinical trials require failed chemo to enter the trial. Abiraterone is one such trial. Also note that Provenge may be an option for you as early as summer next year. So maybe looking into how that will be available might be a good move for you now.

Hi, Al. My husband's onco. advised not moving to chemo until all hormone therapy options had been exhausted. He started low-dose Keto plus Hydrocortisone in July 2008 and had a very good response. We were hoping this would continue but unfortunately his PSA has now risen from 1.7 to 6.5 in three months. We have added Advodart to his meds and will retest PSA next week. Will probably be looking at starting chemo in the near future.

He felt very well on the Ketoconazole and had no side effects other than some skin sensitivity and dry lips.